Potato cutter



Nov; 27, 1923. 1,475,276

J.'A. CANFIELD POTATO CUTTER,

Filed May 22, 1922 2 SheetsSheet 1 Nov. 27 1923.

J. A. CYA-NFIELD PYOTATO CUTTER 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22Patented Nov. 2'7, 1923.

UNITED stares PATENT orslca.

JOHN A. CANFI ELD, OF COLLINS, MISSISSIPPI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOMAC-Q COMPANY,INC., OF COLLINS, MISSISSIPPI.

Application filed May 22,

. T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. CANFIELD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Collies, in the county of Covington and State ofMississippi, have invented anew and useful Potato Cutter, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention aims to provide novel means whereby sweet potatoes may be1 formed into cylinders.

' In the accompanying drawings 2- Figure 1 shows in side elevation, adevice constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a topplan; Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Figure2; Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4; of Figure 3.

The mechanism for cutting the sweet potatoes into cylinders embodies aframe 21.

The frame 21 comprises cross bars 22 whereon cylindrical receivers 23 ofdifferent diamters are secured. Adjacent to their outer ends, thecylindrical receivers 23 are supplied with openings 24. A die 25 ismount:

25 ed in each receiver 23 and is provided with openings 26. The size ofthe openings 26 will depend upon the diameter of the cylinders intowhich the sweet potatoes are to be cut. Each die 25 has a flange 27engaging the end of the corresponding receiver 23. A

retaining ring 28 is threaded on the receiver 23 and includes a flange29, cooperating with the flange 27 of the die 25 to hold the die inplace. The construction is such that one die may be substituted foranother readily should the die be broken or should it be desired tosubstitute, for any one die, an-

other die having different sized openings 26.

Plungers 30 are mounted for reciprocation in the receivers 23, eachplunger comprising a pressure head 31, a guiding head 32 and.

a stem 33 connecting the heads. Pitmans 3a are pivoted at 35 to theparts 32 of the plungers 30 and are provided with straps 36 engaged witheccentrics 37 on a shaft 38 journaled on the frame 21 adjacent to theouter end thereof, the shaft 38 being supplied with any suitable meanswhereby it may be rotated.

In practical operation, the pieces of sweet potato are placed byoperators in the open- 1922. Serial No. 562,712.

ings 2 1 of the cylindrical receivers 23 be j tween the dies 25 and thepressure heads 31 of the plungers 30. The shaft 38, the eccentrics 37,the straps 36 and the pitmans 34L, impart reciprocating movement to theplungers 30, the plungers 30 sliding in the receivers 23. When theplungers are advanced, the pressure heads 31 crowd the potatoes throughthe openings 26 in the dies 25, the potatoes thus being cut up intocylinders-or pencils.

The cylinders formed by the dies 25 pass upon a conveyor 40, operatingbeneath the projecting ends of the receivers 23. Stools 41 are disposedalong the conveyor 40 and op era-tors seated on the'stools pick up thecylinders which have been formed in the dies 25, the cylindersultimately being stood up endwise in cans, and packed for shipment.

Owing to the fact that each plunger. 30 embodies spaced heads 32 and 31,and a stem 33 connecting the heads, any mashed potato which works to theright in Figure 3," be tween the head 31 and the wall of the receiver 23may be removed readily, through the opening 241- when the head 31 isadvanced toward the die 25, into the position shown in' Figure 2, thethickness of the head 31 being less than the length of the opening 24.

Vhat is claimed is In a device of the class described, a frame, areceiver on the frame, a die carried by the receiver, the receiver beingprovidedwith an opening disposed adjacent to the die, a plunger mountedfor reciprocation in the receiver, the plunger comprising a pressurehead, a guidinghead, and a reduced stem connecting the heads, thethickness of the pressure'head being less than the length of theopening, thereby to give access to the space between the head, when theplunger is advanced toward the die, and means for impartingreciprocation to the plunger.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing 95 as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN A. CA-NFIELD.

Witnesses J. B. HOL OWAY- O. L. DOBBS.

